Colloidal carbon injector for internal combustion engines



March 29, 1938. N. D. LOUGHLIN COLLOIDAL CARBON INJECTOR FOR INTERNALCOMBUSTION ENGINES Original Filed March 5, 1956 j/v v/v TOR NORMAN 0.LOUGHL/N Patented Mar. 29, 1938 I I COLLOIDAL CARBON INJECTOR FOR IN-TERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES Norman D. Loughlln, Los Angela's, Calif.,assignor to Bulo Corporation, Los Angelcs, Calif., a corporation ofCalifornia Substitute for application Serial No. 66,856, March 3, 1936.Serial No. 161,642

8 Claiml.

The invention herein set forth is identical with that presented in myapplicationSerial No. 66,856,

.filed March 3, 1936, of which this application is cylinders in whichthe pistons of the engine reciprocate. The metal from which the cylinderblock is formed is slightly porous so that very small cavities occurinthe cylinder walls as initially produced or are formed therein bycontinued use. It is' common practice to grind or lap the walls of thecylinders toproduce a smooth finish and reduce the size of thesecavities, and thusreduce the friction on the piston rings carried by thepistons which tends to reduce the wear on the pistons and cylinderswhich are, of course, lubricated by the crank case oil. I have foundthat if colloidal graphite is fed into the combustion space in thecylinders above the pistons, it not only helps to lubricate the cylinderwalls and thus reduce wear, but it also produces a. very high polish onthe cylinder walls, thus further reducing wear.

Colloidal graphite is graphite in particles of microscopic dimensionsand the principal problem is to introduce the particles in highlydiscrete condition so that the particles will be distributed uniformlyon the cylinder-walls. This I do by the means shown in the drawing.filed herewith, in which:

Fig. 1 is a view showing one way in which my invention may be applied toan internal combustion engine;

Fig. 2 is a vertical cross-section through the center of the injectorwhich I prefer to use; and

Fig. 3 is a similar cross-section on a plane represented by the line 33of Fig. 2.

Referring to Fig. l, H is the cylinder block of an internal combustionengine which has an intake manifold l2, which is supplied with acombustible mixture of air and fuel by a carburetor I3. A throttle valvel4 controls the flow of air to the carburetor. The position ofthethrottle valve I4 is controlled by the operator of the en- 'gine bymeans not shown. Parts similar to parts I l to l4 will be found onnearlyevery automobile and form no part of my invention.

For the purpose of feeding colloidal, graphite into the mixture of airand fuel passing into the combustion spaces of the engine H, I prefer toThis application August 30, 1937,

use an injector 2i which may be connected to the intake manifold l2 by apipe 22. The injector 2| consists of two main parts, namely, a container23 and a cap 24. The container 23 is normally held in fluid-tightrelationshipwith the cap 24 againsta gasket 25 by a spring wire ball 26and a cam link 21. The container 23 may therefore be readily removed forrefilling and is normally partlyfilled, for example to the level 2'l-21with a suspension 28 of colloidal graphite in a suitable liquid such asa light lubricating oil.

Secured in the cap 24 and projecting downwardly to a point near thebottom of the con tainer 23 is an air injection tube ill. The upper endof this tube communicates through a small hole 32 with the atmosphereand the lower end is open but constricted in size as shown at 33 so thatair drawn in through the tube ii is injected into the suspension 28 inthe form of fine globules of ail-.34. These globules rising through thebody of the suspension 28 form a foam consisting of air bubbles eachsurrounded by a thin film of the liquid forming the suspension 26. Thecolloidal graphite is uniformly and finely distributed in this film andthe space 35 inside the container '23 below the cap 24 is filled with afoam made up of these air bubbles. This foam may be drawn up into acavity 4| formed in the cap 24 through a foam opening 36. Air may alsobe drawn into the cavity 4| through 'ain air opening 31.

A nipple 42 is threaded, as shown at 43, into,

one end of this cavity, the pipe 22 being threaded into an orifice 44extending completely through.

the nipple 42. A valve member 45 is secured on a valve stem 46 which canslide freely along its axis in a hole 41 passing through the cap 24. Areaction compression spring 48 surrounds the valve step 46 and actsagainst the valve member 45 and the wall of the cavity. tending to pressthe valve member 45 to the left. When the valve member 45 is at itsextreme left position it closes the end of the orifice 44. A regulatingcompression spring 49 surrounds the valve stem 46 outside the cap 24,pressing at one end against the cap 24 and at the other end against anut 50 threaded on the valve stem 46, and by means of which theeffective tension of the spring 49 may be adjusted. The spring 49 tendsto force. the valve member 45 away from the inner end of the orifice 44.Spiral grooves 55 are cut in the periphery of the valve member 45.

In the normal operation of an automobile the engine is started andallowed to run at slow speed with the valve l4 partially closed. Thisproduces a sub-atmospheric pressure or partial vacuum in the manifold l2and air is drawn into the manifold through the pipe 22 and the orifice44 from the cavity 4!. The greater proportion of this air enters thecavity ll through the air inlet opening 31. In its passage through thecavity the air w; through the spiral grooves 58 of the valve and due totheir inclination drags the valve member 4! to the left, thus causingthe valve member Al to entirely close the inner or right-hand end of theorifice N. The vacuum in the manifold I2, pipe 22, and orifice M thentends to hold the valve 48 in its seated position, closing the end ofthe orifice M. This prevents any material amount of colloidal graphitebeing drawn into the cylinders of the engine while the engine is idling.When, however, the valve is is opened to increase the amount of fuel fedto the engine, the absolute pressure in the manifold l2 rises or, asusually stated, the vacuum therein is decreased. The pull of this vacuumon the end of the valve member 45 decreases. By turning the nut II thepressure of the spring I! tending to unseat the valve 45 from the end ofthe orifice 44 is increased, and by a suitable manipulation of the nutIII the valve can be caused to leave its seat at any desired degree ofvacuum in the manifold l2. If the nut 50 is set so that the valve 45leaves its seat when the valve I4 is half open, the valve 45 will beclosed at all times that the valve i4 is more than half closed, willopen when the valve I4 is half open, and will remain open whenever thevalve i4 is more than half open.

When the valve 45 is in the open position, as

shown in Fig. 2, and the engine II is running, there will always be apartial vacuum in the cavity ll, the degree of this vacuum depending onthe degree of vacuum in the manifold l2 and the size of the air inletopening 31. Under these conditions air is drawn into the cavity llthrough the air inlet opening 31, passes through the grooves 55 where itis given a rotary motion, and is drawn manifold l2. The. partial vacuumin the cavity ll pulls air out of the space 35 until it is at the sameabsolute pressure as the cavity ll. Due to reduced pressure in the space35 air is drawn downwardly through the injection pipe 3| and smallglobules of air 34 rise through the suspension 28 forming small bubblesat the surface 21-21 of the suspension 28. The small bubbles form a foamwhich collects in and fills the space 35. This foam is made up of filmsof the suspension 2| which enclose air bubbles and the foam is graduallydrawn through the foam opening 36 into the cavity ll where it is caughtin the current of air passing from the opening 21 into the orifice N andthrough the pipe 22 into the intake manifold 12. In the intake manifoldi2 the microscopic particles of colloidal graphite are distributed inthe air and fuel mixture and are carried through the valves into thecylinder. Since the colloidal graphite suspension is anexcellentlubricant it lubricatesthe valves, valve stems, and valveseats.

During combustion the liquid portion of the suspension is probablyentirely vaporized, leaving the colloidal graphite in the form ofmicroscopic particles deposited on the cylinder walls, thus lubricatingthese walls.

The amount of graphite fed into the engine in through the pipe 22 intothe inlet valve 45 remains seated until the vacuum in the manifold I2 isfurther reduced and it is possible to so set the nut 5| that theinjector only operates when the valve I4 is near its wide open position.when the injector is first applied to an old engine, it is recommendedthat the nut be set so that injection of graphite starts as soon as thevalve ll is about one-fourth open. This results in a high rate ofinjection of graphite. After the engine has operated long enough for.the cylinder walls to become thoroughly polished and impregnated withgraphite, the tension on the spring 49 maybe greatly reduced so thatgraphite is injected only when the valve I2 is at the engine with acorresponding increase in efficiency.

While I have stated that a suspension formed of colloidal graphite andlight lubricating oil may be placed, in the container 23, it is obviousthat the liquid acts only as a carrier for the graphite and otherliquids especially those tending to form foam may be used.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a device for distributing colloidal graphite in finely dividedform to the cylinders of an internal combustion engine, the combinationof: a' container suited to contain a suspension of colloidal graphite inoil; a cap for said container; means for securing said container to saidcap; an air injection tube extending down into said container andconnecting at its upper end with the atmosphere; a nipple closing oneend of a cavity formed in said cap, said nipple having an orificeextending therethrough; means for connecting the outer end of saidorifice with the intake manifold of the internal combustion engine; avalve member in said cavity so formed as to be capable of closing theinner end of said orifice, said valve member being provided withinclined passages on its periphery so formed as to cause a rotation ofair passing from said cavity into said orifice; a valve stem on whichsaid valve is carried, said valve stem extending through the wall ofsaid cavity; a reaction compression spring surrounding said valve steminside said cavity and tending to force said valve into seatingengagement with the inner end of said orifice; a regulating compressionspring surrounding said-valve stem outside said cavity, said springtending to force said valve member away from said orifice in saidnipple; and an adjustment nut on said valve stem for adjusting thetension of said regulat ing spring; and walls forming a foam opening insaid cap through which foam produced by the bubbling of air from saidinjection pipe through said suspension is drawn into said cavityand anair inlet opening through which air may be drawn into said cavity.

2. In a device for distributing colloidal graphite in finely dividedform to the cylinders of an internal combustion engine, the combinationof: a container suited to contain a suspension of colloidal graphite inoil; a cap for said ,container;.

means for securing said container to said cap; an air injection tubeextending down into said container and connecting at its upper end withthe atmosphere; a nipple closing one end of a cavity formed in said cap,said nipple having an orifice extending therethrough; means forconnecting the outer end of said orifice with the intake manifold of;the intemalcombustion engine;

a valve member in said cavity so formed as to be capable of closing theinner end of said orifice;

a valve stemon which said valve is carried, said outside said cavity,said spring tending to force said valve member away from said orifice insaid stem outside said cavity, said spring tending to nipple; anadjustment nut on said valve stem for adjusting the tension of saidregulating spring; and walls forming a foam opening in said cap throughwhich foam produced by the bubbling of air from said injection pipethrough said suspension is drawn into said cavity and an air inletopening through which air may be drawn into said cavity.

3. In a device for distributing colloidal graphite in finely dividedform to the cylinders of an internal combustion engine, the combinationof: a container suited-to contain a suspension of colloidal'graphite inoil; a cap for said container; means for securing said container to saidcap; an air injection tube extending down into said container andconnecting at its upper end with the atmosphere; walls forming anorifice extending through said cap and opening at its inner end into acavity formed in said cap; means for connecting said orifice to theintake manifold of an internal combustion engine in such a man,- nerthat the pressure in said orifice varies with the pressure subsisting insaid manifold; a valve member in said cavity so formed as to be capableof closing the inner end of said orifice, said valve member beingprovided with inclined passages on its periphery so formed as to cause arotation of air. passing from said cavity into said orifice; a valvestem on which said valve is carried, said valve stem extending throughthe wall of said cavity; a reaction compression spring surrounding saidvalve stem inside said cavity and tending to force said valve intoseating engagement with the inner end of said orifice; a regulatingcompression spring surrounding said valve force said valve member awayfrom said orifice; an adjustment nut on said valve stem for adjustingthe tension of said regulating spring;

and walls forming a foam opening in said cap through which foam producedby the bubbling of air from said injection pipe through said suspensionis drawn into said. cavity and an air inlet opening through which airmay be drawn into said cavity.

4. In a. device for distributing colloidal graphite in finely dividedform to the cylinders of an internal combustion engine, the combinationof a container suited to contain a suspension of colloidal graphite inoil; a cap for said container; means for securing said container to saidcap; an air injection tube extending down into said container andconnecting at its upper end with the atmosphere; walls forming anorifice extending through said cap and opening at its inner end intoa-cavity formed in said cap; means for connecting said orifice to theintake manifold of an internal combustion engine in such a manner thatthe pressure in said orifice varies with the pressure subsisting in saidmanifold; a valve member in said cavity so formed as to be capable ofclosing the inner end of said orifice; a valve stem'on which said valveis carried, said valve, stem extending through the wall of said cavity;a reaction compression spring surrounding said valve stem inside saidcavity and tending to force said valve into seating engagement with theinner end of said orifice; a regulating compression spring surroundingsaid valve stem outside said cavity, said spring tending to force saidvalve member away from said orifice; an adjustment nut on said valvestem for adjusting the tension of said regulating spring; and wallsforming a foam opening in said cap through which foam produced by thebubbling of air,

from said injection pipe through said suspension is drawn into saidcavity and an air inlet-opening through which air may be drawn into saidcavity.

5. In a device for distributing colloidal graphite in finely dividedform to the cylinders of an internal combustion engine, the combinationof: a container suitedto contain a suspension of colloidal graphite inoil; a cap forsaid container; means for securing said containerto saidcap; an air injection tube extending down into said container andconnecting at its upper end with the atmosphere; a nipple closing oneend of a cavity formed in said cap, said nipple having an orificeextending therethrough; means for connecting the outer end of saidorifice with the intake manifold of the internal combustion engine; avalve member in said cavity so formed as to be capable of closing theinner end of said orifice, said valve member being provided withinclined passages on its periphery so formed as to cause a rotation ofair passing from said cavity into said orifice; a'valve stem on whichsaid valve is carried, said valve stem extending through the wall ofsaid cavity; spring means acting on said valve stem tending to forcesaid valve member out of engagement with said orifice; means by whichthe force of said spring means may be regulated by an operator; andwalls forming a foam opening in said cap through which foam produced bythe bubbling of air from said injection pipe through said suspension isdrawn into said cavity. and an air inlet opening through which air maybe drawn into said cavity.

6. In a device for distributing colloidal graphite in finely dividedform to the cylinders of an internal combustion engine, the combinationof: a container suited to contain a suspension of colloidal graphite inoil; a cap for said container; means for securing said container to saidcap; an air injection tube extending down into said container andconnecting at its upper end with the atmosphere; a nipple closing'oneend of a cavity formed in said cap, said nipple having an orificeextending therethrough; means for connecting the outer end of saidorifice with the intake manifold of the internal combustion engine; avalve member in said cavity so formed as to be capable of closing theinner end of said orifice; a valve stem on which said valve is carried,said valve stem extending through the wall of said cavity; spring meansacting on said valve stem tending to force said valve member out ofengagement with said orifice; means by which the force of said springmeans may be regulated by an operator; and walls forming afoam openingin said cap through which foamproduced by' the bubbling of air from saidinjection. pipe through said suspension is drawn into said cavity and anair inlet opening through which air may be drawn. into said'cavity.

7. In a device for distributing colloidal graphinternal combustionengine, the combination of: a container suited to contain a suspensionof colloidal graphite in oil: a cap for said container; means forsecuring said container to said cap; an air injection tube extendingdown into said container and connecting at its upper end with theatmosphere: walls forming an orifice extendingthroughsaidcapandopeningatitsinnerend into a cavity formed in said cap; means for connectingsaid orifice to the intake manifold 01 an internal combustion engine insuch a manner that the pressure in said orifice varies with the pressuresubsisting in said manifold; a vaive member in said cavity so formed asto be capable of closing the inner end or said orifice, said valvemember being provided with inclined passages on its periphery so formedas to cause a rotation of air passing from said cavity into saidorifice; a valve stem on which saidvalve is carried. said valve stemextending through the wall 0! said cavity; spring means acting on saidvalve stem tending to force said valve member out or engagement withsaid orifice; means by which the air inlet opening through which air maybe drawn into said cavity.

a,11a,sss

8. In a device for distributing colloidal'graphite in finely dividedform to the cylinders of an internal combustion engine, the combinationof: a container suited to contain a suspension of colloidal graphite inoil; a cap for said container:

means for securing said container to said cap; an air injection tubeextending down into said container and connecting at its upper end withthe atmosphere; walls forming an orifice extending through said cap andopening at its inner end into a cavity formed in said cap; means forconnecting said orifice to the intake manifold of an internal combustionengine in such a manner that the pressure in said orifice varies withthe pressure subsisting in said manifold; a valve v member in saidcavity so formed as'to be capable of closing the inner end of saidorifice; a valve stem on which said valve is carried. said valve-

